Coeur d' Alene  Nicholas P. Allman, 23, of Kamiah, was sentenced last Thursday, Sept. 12, in United States District Court to 21 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Senior U.S. District Judge Robert H. Whaley also ordered Allman to serve three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the charge on June 11, 2013.

Allman was the driver in an alcohol-related one-vehicle rollover accident Oct. 29, 2011, on Harris Ridge Road that resulted in the death of James R. Oatman, Jr., 20, of Kamiah.

According to statements made in court, Allman and two friends attended an outdoor party outside of Kooskia where witnesses recalled Allman was drinking alcohol and appeared to be intoxicated. Early that Saturday morning, the men left the party with Allman driving the 1993 Toyota 4-Runner. Approximately one hour later, Allman failed to negotiate a turn on Harris Ridge Road, his vehicle left the roadway and rolled down a steep embankment onto U.S. Highway 12 below. The three men – none of whom was wearing a seat belt - were ejected from the vehicle; Oatman died during the rollover.

From a blood draw taken that morning by investigators, Allman was determined to have been intoxicated, having a blood alcohol level above .08.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Idaho State Police, and Nez Perce Tribal Police, with assistance from the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office.